Govt stand on UGC letter absent, state Univs prepare to hold exams

Ranchi: Universities in the state are gearing up to hold their pending examinations after a recent advisory from the University Grants Commission (UGC) even as a few states have voiced against the Union ministry of human resource development directive.
Vice-chancellor of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU) S N Munda said that they have begun the groundwork to hold their examinations soon. “Our examinations will begin later this month and we intend to finish the process by August. We will have both online and offline modes of examinations,” Munda said.
Another official of DSPMU said they have planned to start the online examinations from July 23 while the offline mode is tentatively scheduled from August 6.
Central University of Jharkhand will be holding its examinations between August 3 and August 12 through the online mode. CUJ public relations officer Narendra Kumar said, “The evaluation is tentatively scheduled to get over by August 18.”
Ranchi University, which recently ordered work from home for its employees, has meanwhile adopted a wait-and-watch policy. A university official said, “The university is closely monitoring the present situation and the government’s stand on the UGC directive and at the same time it is preparing to hold its examinations in September.”
When contacted, director of state higher education department Sushant Gaurav said that respective deputy commissioners have been asked to take a call. “The state headquarters recently held an interaction with deputy commissioners regarding the groundwork required for examinations and have been asked to take necessary steps.”
State education minister Jagarnath Mahto said government will soon take a call keeping UGC guidelines and overall interest of students in mind.
The UGC in its directive held that academic evaluation of students is a very important milestone in any education system and added, “Terminal semester(s)/ final year(s) examinations be conducted by the universities and institutions by the end of September, 2020 in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (online and offline) mode. The students of terminal semester/ final year students having backlog should compulsorily be evaluated.”